Joseph Burnett
Encyclopedia
Joseph Burnett was a Royal Australian Navy
(RAN) officer most widely known as the captain of the light cruiser
in the battle between HMAS Sydney and HSK Kormoran on 19 November 1941. He fought in both World War I
and World War II
, serving in the RAN and the Royal Navy
(RN), and went down with the Sydney off the coast of Western Australia.
The loss of the Sydney was significant for two main reasons. First, it represented the loss of one third of all RAN officers and sailors who died during World War II in a single engagement—and not far from Australian soil, at that. Second, great mystery surrounded its loss. There had been no Australian survivors, and so it was not clear how or why a warship
had been in a position to be sunk by a merchant raider
. As commander of the Sydney, Burnett obviously bore responsibility for the ship and its crew, so he was an obvious target for criticism. Investigations into the ship's sinking have tried to examine his apparent decisions in the period leading up to the battle.
Regardless of the events of that day, Burnett was viewed as a good man and competent commander by his peers. His sons both pursued naval careers and served in the RAN. Following a successful search for the Sydney and Kormoran that located both wrecks in 2008, controversy surrounding Burnett's command arose again. His younger son, retired Commodore Rory Burnett, has defended him through various public statements.
, New South Wales, Australia. He was the second son of Richard Burnett and Emily Burnett (née Adams), and the grandson of William Burnett, a blacksmith from Cornwall
who had emigrated to New South Wales in 1859. He attended Singleton Primary School, where he demonstrated both academic and sporting ability.
Burnett's father died when he was just seven years old, and it is possible that the boy was attracted to the newly-formed Royal Australian Naval College (RANC) by the possibility of a free education, as well as adventure. On 31 December 1912, he entered the RANC in Geelong
, becoming one of its first entrants as a Cadet Midshipman
. He graduated as a Midshipman
from the RANC on 1 January 1917.
, and reached the rank of Sub-Lieutenant
in October 1918. At the conclusion of the war, HMAS Australia sailed for Australia, departing on 24 April 1919 and arriving on 28 May.
Burnett left HMAS Australia before departure and remained in England on an attachment to the RN, with which he served for the next seven years. During this time, he played on the RN's rugby
team, and was also known for his performance in athletics, cricket, and tennis. In January 1920, Burnett was promoted to Lieutenant
. By 1922, he had qualified as a Gunnery Officer. He served aboard during those years.
In 1924, Burnett was appointed as the gunnery officer onboard , before marrying Enid Ward and returning briefly to Australia, although still attached to the RN. After three years in Australia, he returned to England and was promoted to Lieutenant Commander
on 1 January 1928. That year, he joined , which he stayed with until 1932 when he attended Naval Staff College
at Greenwich
. He was promoted to Commander
in December 1932, and remained at the college until 1933. Burnett once more returned to Australia, where he worked for the Navy Office in Melbourne for two years.
The Burnetts had two sons and a daughter: Patrick (born 1928), Rory (born 1929), and Bridget (born 1936).
Burnett missed the sea, and in 1936, he was reunited with HMAS Canberra, this time as executive officer. In 1937, he returned to England for the last time, serving aboard and HMS Resolution. Whilst in England, completed the Imperial Defence College course, and was promoted to Captain
on 31 December 1938.
On 14 May 1941, Burnett received his first direct command when he was posted to . The ship had already acquired a distinguished war record in the Battle of the Mediterranean
. Sydney had just completed a refit and her primary duties at the time were escorting convoys. The previous commanding officer was then Captain John Collins.
to the Sunda Strait
. The Sydney was returning to Fremantle
when, at about 4:00 PM on 19 November at a point off the coast between Carnarvon
and Geraldton
, the crew sighted what appeared to be a merchant ship approximately 20 kilometres (10.8 nmi) away and challenged it. The other ship was the Kormoran
, a merchant raider disguised as the Dutch freighter Straat Malakka.
According to accounts by Kormoran crew members, Sydney chased and overhauled the raider, while exchanging signals and attempting to verify her identity. The Sydney closed to within 1,000 yards and demanded a password from the Kormoran, at which point the raider opened fire on the Sydney. Survivors' accounts seemed to indicate that the Sydney was not ready for the engagement, and the Australian cruiser was hit several times before returning fire. At this point, the Sydney had caught fire.
The Sydney was better armoured and more heavily armed than the Kormoran, and struck her severely on the funnel and engine room, which caught fire immediately. With both ships critically damaged, the Sydney turned southwards. She disappeared from the view of the Kormoran and sank with all hands on board. The Kormoran was too badly damaged to be saved, and was scuttled by her captain.
In 2008, following the discovery of the wrecks of HMAS Sydney and HSK Kormoran, controversy about Burnett's alleged actions arose again. In particular, one German survivor of the battle had reportedly accused Burnett of 'incompetent' and 'criminal' action—a claim refuted by Rory Burnett, who said: "I don't think he's in any position to make that judgment, but he's entitled to his opinion. My father was a very professional and highly regarded officer." He also said: "I'm not saying that closing was right. Indeed, with hindsight, it proved to be wrong. But closing on suspected ships had become a well-accepted tactic. It was not doctrine but it had been used successfully before by other experienced officers."
In August 2009, The Australian
reported that the official inquiry led by Terence Cole
"found [Burnett] behaved inexplicably, but not negligently, when he brought the warship too close to a German raider."
Burnett's sons, who were aged 13 and 12 when he died, both attended the RANC and went on to careers in the RAN. Younger son Rory received a special cadetship. Patrick reached the rank of Commander and Rory reached the rank of Commodore
.
Burnett is commemorated by the Burnett Memorial Prize for rugby at the RANC.
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
(RAN) officer most widely known as the captain of the light cruiser
Light cruiser
A light cruiser is a type of small- or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck...
in the battle between HMAS Sydney and HSK Kormoran on 19 November 1941. He fought in both World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, serving in the RAN and the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
(RN), and went down with the Sydney off the coast of Western Australia.
The loss of the Sydney was significant for two main reasons. First, it represented the loss of one third of all RAN officers and sailors who died during World War II in a single engagement—and not far from Australian soil, at that. Second, great mystery surrounded its loss. There had been no Australian survivors, and so it was not clear how or why a warship
Warship
A warship is a ship that is built and primarily intended for combat. Warships are usually built in a completely different way from merchant ships. As well as being armed, warships are designed to withstand damage and are usually faster and more maneuvrable than merchant ships...
had been in a position to be sunk by a merchant raider
Merchant raider
Merchant raiders are ships which disguise themselves as non-combatant merchant vessels, whilst actually being armed and intending to attack enemy commerce. Germany used several merchant raiders early in World War I, and again early in World War II...
. As commander of the Sydney, Burnett obviously bore responsibility for the ship and its crew, so he was an obvious target for criticism. Investigations into the ship's sinking have tried to examine his apparent decisions in the period leading up to the battle.
Regardless of the events of that day, Burnett was viewed as a good man and competent commander by his peers. His sons both pursued naval careers and served in the RAN. Following a successful search for the Sydney and Kormoran that located both wrecks in 2008, controversy surrounding Burnett's command arose again. His younger son, retired Commodore Rory Burnett, has defended him through various public statements.
Early life
Burnett was born on 26 December 1899 in SingletonSingleton, New South Wales
-Industry & Commerce:Major industries near Singleton include coal mining, energy generation, light industry, vineyards, horse breeding and cattle production. Dairying was once a mainstay in the area, but has declined....
, New South Wales, Australia. He was the second son of Richard Burnett and Emily Burnett (née Adams), and the grandson of William Burnett, a blacksmith from Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
who had emigrated to New South Wales in 1859. He attended Singleton Primary School, where he demonstrated both academic and sporting ability.
Burnett's father died when he was just seven years old, and it is possible that the boy was attracted to the newly-formed Royal Australian Naval College (RANC) by the possibility of a free education, as well as adventure. On 31 December 1912, he entered the RANC in Geelong
Geelong, Victoria
Geelong is a port city located on Corio Bay and the Barwon River, in the state of Victoria, Australia, south-west of the state capital; Melbourne. It is the second most populated city in Victoria and the fifth most populated non-capital city in Australia...
, becoming one of its first entrants as a Cadet Midshipman
Cadet
A cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :...
. He graduated as a Midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
from the RANC on 1 January 1917.
World War I
Burnett was sent to England, where he served aboard , the flagship of 2nd Battle Cruiser Squadron. He remained with the ship for the remainder of World War I, seeing service in the Atlantic OceanAtlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
, and reached the rank of Sub-Lieutenant
Sub-Lieutenant
Sub-lieutenant is a military rank. It is normally a junior officer rank.In many navies, a sub-lieutenant is a naval commissioned or subordinate officer, ranking below a lieutenant. In the Royal Navy the rank of sub-lieutenant is equivalent to the rank of lieutenant in the British Army and of...
in October 1918. At the conclusion of the war, HMAS Australia sailed for Australia, departing on 24 April 1919 and arriving on 28 May.
Inter-war years
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
team, and was also known for his performance in athletics, cricket, and tennis. In January 1920, Burnett was promoted to Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
. By 1922, he had qualified as a Gunnery Officer. He served aboard during those years.
In 1924, Burnett was appointed as the gunnery officer onboard , before marrying Enid Ward and returning briefly to Australia, although still attached to the RN. After three years in Australia, he returned to England and was promoted to Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
on 1 January 1928. That year, he joined , which he stayed with until 1932 when he attended Naval Staff College
Old Royal Naval College
The Old Royal Naval College is the architectural centrepiece of Maritime Greenwich, a World Heritage Site in Greenwich, London, described by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation as being of “outstanding universal value” and reckoned to be the “finest and most...
at Greenwich
Greenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
. He was promoted to Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
in December 1932, and remained at the college until 1933. Burnett once more returned to Australia, where he worked for the Navy Office in Melbourne for two years.
The Burnetts had two sons and a daughter: Patrick (born 1928), Rory (born 1929), and Bridget (born 1936).
Burnett missed the sea, and in 1936, he was reunited with HMAS Canberra, this time as executive officer. In 1937, he returned to England for the last time, serving aboard and HMS Resolution. Whilst in England, completed the Imperial Defence College course, and was promoted to Captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
on 31 December 1938.
World War II
At the outbreak of World War II on 3 September 1939, Burnett was recalled to Australia where he was made assistant chief of naval staff at the Navy Office in Melbourne. By October 1940, he had been sent to Singapore as the senior RAN representative at an Allied conference considering the defence of the Asia-Pacific region. At the conference, he called for the establishment of the Naval Auxiliary Patrol, which proved successful at patrolling harbour entrances throughout the war.On 14 May 1941, Burnett received his first direct command when he was posted to . The ship had already acquired a distinguished war record in the Battle of the Mediterranean
Battle of the Mediterranean
The Battle of the Mediterranean was the name given to the naval campaign fought in the Mediterranean Sea during World War II, from 10 June 1940-2 May 1945....
. Sydney had just completed a refit and her primary duties at the time were escorting convoys. The previous commanding officer was then Captain John Collins.
Battle between HMAS Sydney and HSK Kormoran
In November 1941, HMAS Sydney undertook a mission to escort the troopship ZealandiaZealandia
SS Zealandia, nicknamed Z was a historically significant Australian cargo and passenger ship. It served as a troopship in both World War I and World War II. Zealandia transported the ill-fated Australian 8th Division. Its crew were the last Allied personnel to see HMAS Sydney, which was lost with...
to the Sunda Strait
Sunda Strait
The Sunda Strait is the strait between the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra. It connects the Java Sea to the Indian Ocean...
. The Sydney was returning to Fremantle
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
when, at about 4:00 PM on 19 November at a point off the coast between Carnarvon
Carnarvon, Western Australia
Carnarvon is a coastal town situated approximately 900 kilometres north of Perth, Western Australia. It lies at the mouth of the Gascoyne River on the Indian Ocean. The popular Shark Bay world heritage area lies to the south of the town and the Ningaloo Reef lies to the north...
and Geraldton
Geraldton, Western Australia
Geraldton is a city and port in Western Australia located north of Perth in the Mid West region. Geraldton has an estimated population at June 2010 of 36,958...
, the crew sighted what appeared to be a merchant ship approximately 20 kilometres (10.8 nmi) away and challenged it. The other ship was the Kormoran
German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran
The German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran was a Kriegsmarine merchant raider of World War II. Originally the merchant vessel Steiermark, the ship was acquired by the Kriegsmarine following the outbreak of war for conversion into a raider...
, a merchant raider disguised as the Dutch freighter Straat Malakka.
According to accounts by Kormoran crew members, Sydney chased and overhauled the raider, while exchanging signals and attempting to verify her identity. The Sydney closed to within 1,000 yards and demanded a password from the Kormoran, at which point the raider opened fire on the Sydney. Survivors' accounts seemed to indicate that the Sydney was not ready for the engagement, and the Australian cruiser was hit several times before returning fire. At this point, the Sydney had caught fire.
The Sydney was better armoured and more heavily armed than the Kormoran, and struck her severely on the funnel and engine room, which caught fire immediately. With both ships critically damaged, the Sydney turned southwards. She disappeared from the view of the Kormoran and sank with all hands on board. The Kormoran was too badly damaged to be saved, and was scuttled by her captain.
Controversy
The loss of the Sydney was a significant event in Australia—of all the RAN officers and sailors who died during World War II, one third of them went down with the Sydney. Many found it difficult to believe that a converted merchant ship could sink a modern light cruiser, and also found it difficult to believe that a senior officer such as Burnett took his ship within 1,000 metres (1,100 yards) of an unidentified and possibly dangerous vessel during wartime without preparing for action, and with such disastrous results. It was also seen as strange that the bulk of the crew of the Kormoran survived, while there were no known survivors from the Sydney.In 2008, following the discovery of the wrecks of HMAS Sydney and HSK Kormoran, controversy about Burnett's alleged actions arose again. In particular, one German survivor of the battle had reportedly accused Burnett of 'incompetent' and 'criminal' action—a claim refuted by Rory Burnett, who said: "I don't think he's in any position to make that judgment, but he's entitled to his opinion. My father was a very professional and highly regarded officer." He also said: "I'm not saying that closing was right. Indeed, with hindsight, it proved to be wrong. But closing on suspected ships had become a well-accepted tactic. It was not doctrine but it had been used successfully before by other experienced officers."
In August 2009, The Australian
The Australian
The Australian is a broadsheet newspaper published in Australia from Monday to Saturday each week since 14 July 1964. The editor in chief is Chris Mitchell, the editor is Clive Mathieson and the 'editor-at-large' is Paul Kelly....
reported that the official inquiry led by Terence Cole
Terence Cole
Terence Rhoderick Hudson Cole, AO, RFD, QC , is an Australian jurist, known best for presiding over two Royal Commissions. Cole was born in Longreach, Queensland, and was educated at Fort Street High School in Sydney and the University of Sydney. He was admitted to the bar in 1962, and appointed a...
"found [Burnett] behaved inexplicably, but not negligently, when he brought the warship too close to a German raider."
Legacy
Collins, by then a Vice Admiral, wrote to Burnett's elder son, Patrick, saying: "Joe Burnett was one of our finest officers. An outstanding sport with a good brain—an unusual combination. With these qualifications and, as you so well know, a happy and cheerful disposition it is not surprising that he was one of the most popular of our year."Burnett's sons, who were aged 13 and 12 when he died, both attended the RANC and went on to careers in the RAN. Younger son Rory received a special cadetship. Patrick reached the rank of Commander and Rory reached the rank of Commodore
Commodore (rank)
Commodore is a military rank used in many navies that is superior to a navy captain, but below a rear admiral. Non-English-speaking nations often use the rank of flotilla admiral or counter admiral as an equivalent .It is often regarded as a one-star rank with a NATO code of OF-6, but is not always...
.
Burnett is commemorated by the Burnett Memorial Prize for rugby at the RANC.
See also
- Fog of warFog of warThe fog of war is a term used to describe the uncertainty in situation awareness experienced by participants in military operations. The term seeks to capture the uncertainty regarding own capability, adversary capability, and adversary intent during an engagement, operation, or campaign...
- Royal Naval Patrol ServiceRoyal Naval Patrol ServiceThe Royal Naval Patrol Service was a branch of the Royal Navy active during the Second World War. The RNPS operated many small auxiliary vessels such as naval trawlers for anti-submarine and minesweeping operations to protect coastal Britain and convoys during WWII.-History:The Royal Naval Patrol...
- Theodor DetmersTheodor DetmersTheodor Detmers was the commanding officer of the German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
External links
- Final report into the loss of HMAS Sydney II (July 2009)
- HMAS Sydney II memorial service (16 April 2008)